Filing cabinets

ABSTRACT

A filing cabinet having a slidably mounted tray and a cable having one end attached to the cabinet. A pair of vertically spaced pulleys are provided on the rear of the tray. The cable passes first over the pulleys and then through a bracket on the cabinet and the other end of the cable is anchored to the bracket.

To secure the various parts in position in and on the case, a plurality of biasing means in the form of spring clamps 80 is provided, the details of which are best illustrated in FIGS. and 11. Each spring clamp 80 includes a U-shaped cam and hinge member 81 (FIG. 11) the bight portion 82 of which overlies the top edge of the lip 45. The hinge and cam member 81 includes a hinge leg 83 that extends toward the ledge 43 and passes through a slot 55 formed in the ledge 43 adjacent to the lip 45. The lower end of the leg 83 has a generally rectangular slot 84 therein which cooperates with a compression clip 85 by receiving the curved hinge portion 86 thereof through the slot 84.

The compression clip 85 includes an outwardly curved and bent over portion 87 which terminates as a U-shaped flange 88, the return leg of which is designated as 89. The distance between the bight portion 82 and the bent over portion 87 is less than the distance between the return leg 89 and the bent over portion 87 when the compression clip is in a relaxed or open condition. Thus, when the clip 85 is rotated to the closed or biasing position thereof illustrated in FIG. 11, the leg 89 will at all times engage the bight portion 82 of the hinge and cam member 81. As a result, when the compression clip 85 is rotated to the closed position the bight 82 acts as a cam on leg 89 and forces same upwardly to prevent the clip from rotating outwardly. At the same time, due to the relationship of the parts, a downward compressive force will always be exerted on whatever member is disposed between the ledge 43 and the leg 89.

The configuration of the compression clip 85 and the manner in which it is mounted relative to the ledge 43 permits a number of different mounting arrangements of the palette 30, gasket 70 and cover 60 relative to the case and in each instance the clip 80 insures that the parts are held securely in place. Moreover, the downward force exerted by the return leg 89 on the flange 63 or edge portion 33 over the gasket 70 causes compression of the gasket 70 so as to provide an airtight seal between the case and the member or members disposed above it.

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, it will be appreciated that a number of different storage and use arrangements of the case, palette, gasket and cover are possible. Thus, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the palette 30 is shown with the body portion 31 in the elevated position and the peripheral edge portion 33 thereof in direct and continuous contact with the ledge 43 of the case. This position allows the artist to use the palette in the elevated condition whereby the body portion 31 is readily accessible for use with the pastelike materials such as the oils and acryl- ICS.

If the artist desires to temporarily discontinue painting for lunch or other recess, or to transport the case to another location, the gasket 70 may be placed over the peripheral edge portion 33 of the palette and thereafter the cover 60 placed in position as shown. When this step has been completed the compression clip 85 is rotated from the open position illustrated in FIG. 10 to the closed position illustrated in FIG. 11. The compressive force of the four clips 85 on the peripheral flange 63 of the cover causes the flange tofirmly abut and compress the resilient sealing gasket 70, thereby providing a seal between the flange 63 and the outer edge portion 33 of the palette 30 whereby a substantially airtight compartment is provided between the cover and the palette.

As a second arrangement, the left hand side of FIG. 3 shows the palette 30 in the dished position while the right hand portion of FIG. 3 illustrates the cover 60 in a storage position within the case while the palette is disposed over the cover and within the lip 45.

It will also be understood that the gasket 70 may be disposed directly on the ledge 43 with the palette placed thereover whereby a substantially airtight compartment is formed between the palette 30 and the cover 40. This latter arrangement would be desirable where the artist is switching from one material to another such as may be the case when going between classrooms wherein it is desired to save the first material and prevent from drying out.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated a pad 34 of disposable vellum paper sheets, the pad 34 having a double adhesive tape on the bottom thereof. It will be observed from FIGS. 6 and 7 that the pad 34 is adapted to be disposed on the body portion 31 of the palette 30 and within the side wall 32 thereof with the side wall 32 preventing lateral movement of the pad 34 relative to the palette 30. In this case, the artist may merely lay out his paint or other materials directly on the paper pad and to avoid a messy cleanup process merely tear off the single sheet of paper and dispose of same. In FIG. 8, in lieu of the paper pad illustrated in FIG. 7 there is illustrated a wood board 35 which also is positionable on the body portion 31 within the side wall 32 of the palette 30.

In the preferred embodiment of palette, case, cover and gasket illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the case is preferably molded as a one-piece member from a plastic material such as A.B.S. The palette may be ofa melamine-type molded plastic or may be comprised ofa porcelain finish over drawn steel. If desired, a melamine laminate to provide a wood-type surface appearance may be molded to the elevated sideof the body portion. The cover similarly may be formed of a molded plastic A.B.S. or a melamine-type plastic. The gasket 70 may be formed of a semirigid plastic such as polypropelene. The gasket is preferably about 0.035 inch thick at the center, with an arched under surface about 0.030 inch high and tapering to the outer edges. The bead 71 is 0.050 inch wide and 0.030 inch above the body ofthe gasket.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be observed that in order to allow the palette to be inverted and stored within the case in either position, and also to allow the cover to be inverted and stored within the case, the included or internal angle between the side wall 32 of the palette and the body portion 31 thereof is greater than the included or internal angle between the side wall 62 and body portion 61 of the cover, which angle in turn is greater than the included or internal angle between the side wall 42 and the bottom wall 41 of the case 40. For example, the included angle for the palette may be approximately the included angle for the cover approximately 120 and the included angle for the case being 1 15.

Finally, in the embodiment illustrated, it will be observed that although the body portions of the palette and cover are generally rectangular, the sides thereof are slightly curved. This will prevent the palette from sliding toward the tube area 46 of the ledge 43 when the palette is in an elevated position.

A second embodiment of palette and gasket arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 9. In this embodiment the palette includes a body portion 131, side wall 132 and peripheral edge portion 133. Here, however, instead of the gasket being provided as a separate semirigid frame 70, a gasket 135 is provided in the form of a vinyl material that is adhesively secured to the peripheral edge portion 133 of the palette. In this case, the vinyl gasket includes leg portions 136 and 137 which cover both sides of the edge portion 133. Each leg 136 and 137 has a plurality of raised ridges 138 thereon comparable to the bead 71, but slightly narrower on the order of 0.030 inch. With this embodiment, it is possible to obtain two substantially airtight compartments when the cover 60 is placed over the palette 30 and the biasing means 80 are operated to the closed positions thereof. This particular embodiment is best employed when the palette is comprised of a drawn steel member having a porcelain finish thereover, but also may be employed with the melamine type molded plastic palette as well.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 through 20, a third embodiment of palette and gasket arrangement is illustrated. In this embodiment the cover 60 and the case 40 are identical to those previously described, but a slightly different palette structure 230 is employed. A disposable liner '90 (FIGS. 14A, 148) comprising a body portion 91, upstanding side wall 92 and a peripheral edge portion 93 complementary to the respective parts of the palette 230 is provided.

The edge portion 93 of the liner includes a pair of continuous hollow ridges 94 formed therein, the ridges 94 operating as the gasket means 70 in the embodiment heretofore Patented March 21,1972 4 3,650,590

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ATTORNEYS This application is a divisional application of copending application Ser. No. 539,103 filed Mar. 3], 1966, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,321.

This invention relates to filing cabinets, and more particularly to a type in which a plurality of trays, shelves or drawers are arranged in superposed relationship and can be selectively drawn out of the cabinet to an extended position to thereby render their contents accessible.

In cabinets of this character, flexible cables are sometimes employed for facilitating the easy and balanced sliding movement of the trays. Often slack occurs in such cables and accordingly the required balance ease of operation and free sliding movementis impeded. It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide means by which the required tension may be readily applied to the cables and maintained therein, thus assuring satisfactory balanced operation of the trays at all times. It is another object of the invention to provide additional structural features of advantage in a cabinet of this kind.

It is still another object of the invention to provide in a cabinet of this kind, means by which only one of the trays or drawers of the cabinet at a time can be maintained in an advanced or projected position and by which any attempt to advance or project a second tray will result in the retraction of the first tray.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein illustrative embodiments of the invention are disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a filing cabinet and one of the trays mounted therein with its associated parts;

FIG. 2 is a similar'view, showing the tray in its extended or projected position and the door raised;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4- 4 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5- 5 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 thereof, there is shown therein a portion of a filing cabinet l, the same in this embodiment, containing a plurality of slidable trays 2, shelves or drawers, arranged one above the other in the known manner in the cabinet.

Each of the slidable trays 2 is supported by ledges 3 located adjacent to the opposite sides of the tray, each of the ledges having an upstanding flange 4 attached to one of the vertical walls 5 of the cabinet. Extending across the lower rear portion of the tray 2 and between vertical flanges 6 provided on the tray is a rotative shaft 7 carrying a roller 8 at each of its ends, said rollers riding upon the ledges 3 which form supporting rails to thereby permit the easy back and forth sliding movement of the tray 2 to bring it to either the advanced or projected position of FIG. 2, whereby the contents of the tray are rendered accessible, or to retract the tray to its housed position within the cabinetas clearly shown in FIG. 1.

The shaft 7 also carries at each of its ends, a pulley 9 around which a flexible cable 10, preferably of stranded metallic material, extends. Each of these cables 10 is anchored at its forward end to a bracket 11, said brackets being attached to to respective side walls of the cabinet. From the pulleys 9, each of the cables 10 extends upwardly to pass around an upper pulley 12, said pulleys 12 being carried on a cross shaft 13, rotatable in the flanges 6 at the back ofthe tray. Rollers 14 are also carried by the upper shaft 13, said rollers engaging under guide plates 15 mounted on the walls of the cabinet. This arrangement provides for easy sliding movement of the tray.

From the pulleys 12, the cables 10 extend rearwardly to pass around pulleys 16 carried on stud shafts 17 mounted in angle brackets 18 secured to the rear wall of the cabinet. The rear end of each of the cables 10 is attached by screw 19 to a stud 20 mounted in the bracket 18. The brackets 18 are each provided with a lug 21 through which an adjusting screw 22 threadably passes, said screw being provided at one end with a head 23 for engagement against the portion of the cable 10 that is located between theanchorage point 19 of the cable and the guide roller 16.

The above-described arrangement is such that by the turning of the screws 22 the two cables 10 can be constantly maintained under the required tension in order to secure the most efficient balanced operation of the tray. By the manual turning of the adjusting screws to the required extent, the desired tension can thus be applied to the cables or either of them. The I adjusting screws 22 each have a knob 24 to facilitate their manual adjustment.

The portion of the cabinet in which each of the trays is housed is normally closed by a door 25 supported by square supports 26. The closed position of the door, when the tray is in its retracted position, is shown in FIG. 1. When it is desired to have access to the tray, the cover is raised vertically until its flange 27 contacts with the square supports 26. The door is then swung to a horizontal position, the supports 26 turning with it and the door is then slid rearwardly into the cabinet to come to rest in the manner shown in FIG. 2, upon the ledges 28.The tray may thereupon be drawn out to the extended position shown in FIG. 2 for access to its contents. The sliding movement of the tray to its advanced or retracted position is facilitated by its manner of mounting as described. The tensioned cables serve to balance the tray and as stated they can be tensioned as required tomeet the conditions of loading of the trays and to take up any stretch which might occur in the cables.

While the structural details of only one of the trays and its associated parts are described, it will be understood that a number of these trays may be arranged in the cabinet in the usual superposed relation.

In the structure of FIGS. 1 to 5 means is provided to limit the forward movement of the tray, such means consisting of the bumpers 40 provided on the bottom of the tray for contact with a stop lip 41 provided on each ofthe brackets 11.

What is claimed is:

1. A filing cabinet having a slidably mounted tray therein, a cable having one end attached to said cabinet, a pair of vertically spaced pulleys on the rear of said tray, said cable passing successively over said pulleys, a bracket on said cabinet, the other end of said cable being anchored on said bracket, an adjustive screw mounted on said bracket and in contact with said other end ofsaid cable for applying tension thereon.

2. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the tension-applying means includes a bracket attached to a wall of the cabinet, said bracket carrying a guide means for the cable, the bracket being also provided with an anchorage for one end of the cable, and the tension-applying means being also carried by the bracket.

3. A filing cabinet according to claim 2, wherein the bracket is provided with a lug, the tension-applying means being a screw threadable through the lug and having a head engaging against the cable between the guide means and the cable anchorage.

4. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the guide pulleys are carried on cross shafts at the rear of the tray, support means mounted on the cabinets and against which the pulleys engage, and the tension-applying means being located on the rear wall of the cabinet at the back of the tray.

5. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet has a door supported on a square element, said door being slidable with respect to said element, the element being rotative along with the door to enable the door to be brought from a vertical to a horizontal position above a tray. 

1. A filing cabinet having a slidably mounted tray therein, a cable having one end attached to said cabinet, a pair of vertically spaced pulleys on the rear of said tray, said cable passing successively over said pulleys, a bracket on said cabinet, the other end of said cable being anchored on said bracket, an adjustive screw mounted on said bracket and in contact with said other end of said cable for applying tension thereon.
 2. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the tension-applying means incLudes a bracket attached to a wall of the cabinet, said bracket carrying a guide means for the cable, the bracket being also provided with an anchorage for one end of the cable, and the tension-applying means being also carried by the bracket.
 3. A filing cabinet according to claim 2, wherein the bracket is provided with a lug, the tension-applying means being a screw threadable through the lug and having a head engaging against the cable between the guide means and the cable anchorage.
 4. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the guide pulleys are carried on cross shafts at the rear of the tray, support means mounted on the cabinets and against which the pulleys engage, and the tension-applying means being located on the rear wall of the cabinet at the back of the tray.
 5. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet has a door supported on a square element, said door being slidable with respect to said element, the element being rotative along with the door to enable the door to be brought from a vertical to a horizontal position above a tray. 